Grader front assembly



'Aug- 6 1930. *c; B. FAVERTY 1,774,477

GRADER FRONT ASSEMBLY Filed Aug. 24, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet l 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Aug. 26, 1930. c. B. FAVERTY GRADER FRONT ASSEMBLY Filed Aug. 24. 1927 Patented Aug-26, 1930 UNITED: STATES P AT-EN'IT' OFFICE.)

C YDE B. FAVERTY, or HAMMOND, :INDIANA, ASSIGNOR '10 RYAN 'MNFG, coRPoRA- IION, or CHIGAGQILLINOIS, 1A CORPORATION or ILLINOIS .GRADER FRONT ASSEMBLY- Application filed August 24,- 1927. Serial 170,215,088.

7 My invention relates in general to road graders and has for its main object the provision of a better grade than those heretofore known; More specifically the invention relates to the type of grader shown in the co-pending application of Daniel C. Hinds, Serial Number 689,416, filed January 30, 1924 i now Patent No. 1,7 32,892, although the novel 10 features to be described herein may have other adaptations. 7 One of the principal specific objects of our invention, is to provide an improved grader tongue assembly. Another object is to provide an improved drive for the front'wheel lean mechanism or other adjustable elements.

Another object is to provide a guide tongue assembly which is easily adjusted.

Another object is to provide driving connection for the front wheel lean mechanism from the guiding tongue, without-interfering with the adjustability of said tongue. {Another object is to provide a driving connection from the tongue to the front wheel lean mechanism, so constructed that the tongue may be moved freely without interfering with the drivingconnection.

' Other objects and features of the invention will become apparent from a considera- .'tion of the following detailed description taken with the accompanying drawings, wherein Fig.1 is a plan view showing the main parts of the-tongue assembly, and

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view thereof, partly'in section.

A grader embodying the main features of my invention may have any usual type of front axle with a main frame and a universal joint connection between the main frame and front axle. Tiltable or. leanable wheels are provided with a mechanism associated with the axle for operating the same;

A guiding tongue'is pivoted on a' vertical swivel at the mid-point of the axle, and a resilient connection from the frame to the mid-portion of the tongue holds'it at all time in substantially horizontal position without strain on the pivot. A chain connection from each end of the axle-connects with suitable gearing carried by the tongue and operable through an adjustable. shaft connection to control the horizontal angle of the tongue with respect to the axles A second adjustable shaft extending from a suitable source of power on the main frame, forms a'connection onthe tongue with adjustableshafting extending from the tongue to the front wheel lean mechanism, the entire construction being such that the tongue is freely movable by the adjusting mechanism without interfering with the operation of the wheel lean mechanism.

In the drawings, a fragmentary portion 10 of the main frame is illustrated having a ball 11 as an integral part thereof forming a suitable universal'connection' with a front axle l2. Midwayof the axle, a tongue 13 is secured by a pivot connection 14. The tongue is formed of any suitable material preferably an I-beam and has means at the front end thereof for connecting it to a suitable source of motor power.

Immediatelyabove theball 11 and on the main frame, is a bracket 16 in which is j our-' naled a small shaft 17 "for'furnishing driving power to a portion of the grader which is not shown in'detail herein. At the center of the bracket 16 is a pin 18 having rotatably secured thereon, a guide plate 19 which serves to position all of the mechanism associated with the tongue. Below the guide plate is alink member 21 having secured thereto a chain 22 which in turn engages with a coil spring 23 having its other end secured to the tongue. The spring and chain support the tongue resiliently in horizontal position and since the chain is conresilient support is at alltimes able to hear I the tongue independently of its horizontal angular position. i I p The tongue would normally be expected to be at right angles to the axle. For the purpose of drawing the grader however, with the source ofpower off-set therefrom, the tongue is provided with means for inclining it with respect to the axle either to the ed to drive the same.

right or to the left. Near the front end thereof, a bracket is provided in which is journaled a vertical shaft 26 having at its upper end, a worm gear 27 and at its lower end a sprocket gear 28. The sprocket gear has in engagement therein, a sprocket chain 29 with rods 31 and 32 respectively secured at the ends thereof, the other ends of the rods being secured at opposite ends of the axle. A transverse shaft 33 carried by the tongue and journaled in the bracket has secured thereon a bevel gear 34 meshing with a small bevel gear 35 carried by a shaft 36, and a worm 37 meshing with the worm gear 27. Power is supplied in a manner to be described, to the shaft 36 thus serving to operate the shaft 33 and this in turn through the gearing shown, serves to wind ,the sprocket chain 29 above its gear and so incline the tongue in either direction.

Theshort shaft 36 is connected by a universal joint 38 to a square sleeve shaft 39, which'has in slidable engagement therewith, a telescoping shaft 41 also square and adapt Thence the driving connection is to a universal joint 42, shaft 43 carried by the guiding bracket 19, universal joint 44 and shaft 45 leading by means of suitable connections to a source of power at'the rear of the grader. Suitable transmission means (not shown)v is provided to drive the shaft 45 in either direction so that the tongue may be inclined either to the right or left for the purpose outlined.

In the embodiment of the invention shown, the drive for the front wheel lean mechanism is through the tongue, and in this way less angularity is given to the flexible shafting than when the drive is provided in any other manner. :Immediately to the rear of the tongue shifting mechanism, isa housing 46 having journaled therein, a pair of short shafts carrying bevel gears 47 and 48 meshed with each other and having a fixed angle. Behind the bevel gear 48 is a suitable connection 49 leading to the front wheel lean mechanism for operating the same and the power shaft for supplying the power is connected to the bevel gear 47. (The details of the front wheel leanmechanism are described in the co-pending application of Clyde B. Faverty, Serial No. 295,864, filed July 28, 1928). This shaft is flexible and consists of a universal joint 51, sleeve 52, telescoping shaft 53, joint 54, shaft suitably held by the guide bracket 19, joint 56 and shaft 57. The shaft 57 of course leads to any suitable source of power, preferably a transmission gear box at the rear of the grader adapted to receive power from an internal combustion engine and transmit to the shaft 57 so as to turn the same in either direction.

The drive from the bevel gears to the front wheel lean mechanism may also have a driving sleeve 58, a telescoping shaft 59 adapted to cooperate therewith, a universal joint 61 and a fixed rotatable shaft 62. A suitable connection is made between the shaft 62 and the front wheel lean mechanism so that the wheels may he leaned in either direction depending upon the direction of rotation of the shaft.

Besides supporting the tongue, the chain 22 and spring 23 serve to turn the guide plate 19 as the tongue is moved so that the angularity of the shafting will be at the minimum for the degree of deflection of the tongue. The advantage of the arrangement when making a short turn is obvious.

The shaft 59 as previously described is adapted for use to adjust an element carried by the grader, in the present instance,the leaning position of the front wheels. The wheels are not shown in the present disclosure but are of the construction shown in my co-pending application serial No. 295,864, filed July 28, 1928. For controlling the Wheels I supply mechanism including a bevel gear 71 integral with the shaft 62, which meshes with a bevel gear 72 carried on a transverse shaft 73. This shaft 73 is suitably journaled along the front axle and carries a worm gear 74 which drives at reduced speed, a worm gear (not shown), carried by a suitable shaft which also carries a pinion 76 which directlyioperates the leaning of the wheels. This is one form of wheel leaning mechanism which may be used in connection with the present invention, although obviously, other wheel leaning mechanisms are adapted for use with the front assembly as shown.

My invention is adaptable for use with any grader, but it has particular utility with the type of grader shown in the co-pending application referred to. In this grader the great number of adjustments make it difficult to transmit motive power properly to the various parts, but my invention enables me to overcome this problem to a large extent while still preserving the maximum flexibility and performance with respect to the guiding tongue. The details of the invention are given for purposes of illustration only, and the invention is limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is 1. In a road grader, a front axle for supporting front wheel mechanisms at the ends thereof, a main frame with a universal joint connection to said axle, a tongue pivoted intermediate the ends of said axle, resilient means extending between said tongue and said main frame for supporting the tongue in horizontal position, and means for holding the tongue ata predetermined horizon tal inclination with res ect to the front axle.

2. In a road grader aving a front wheel ment with the mid-portion of said axle, a

tongue secured intermediate the ends of the axle, means for actuating the front wheel leaning mechanism, and shafting extending from said mechanism to said tongue and thence back over the main frame for connection to a suitable source of power.

3. In a road grader, a frontaxle for supporting wheels at the ends thereof, a main frame connected to said axle, a tongue pivoted to the axle intermediate its ends, resilient means extending between the tongue and main frame for supporting said tongue in horizontal position, means for holding the tongue at any desirable angle with respect to the front axle, a front wheel adjusting mechanism, and shafting extending from said adjusting mechanism to the tongue and thence back over the main frame for con nection to a suitable source of power.

4. In a road grader provided with an adjusting mechanism, a'front axle, an adjustable tongue securedthereto, shafting extending from the frame to the tongue for controlling the adjustment thereof, and shafting from the frame to the tongue and back to the body of the grader for controlling said adjusting mechanism without interfering with the free adjustment and manipula tion of said tongue.

5. In a road grader provided with front wheel lean mechanism, a main frame, a guiding tongue, shafting extending from a source of power on the main frame to the tongue, shafting extending from the tongue to the lean mechanism, and a gear connection carried by the tongue between the two shafts.

6. In a road grader, the combination defined in claim 5 wherein said gear connection comprises a pair of bevel gears of fixed relative position with respect to each other.

7 In a road grader, a front axle, a main frame having a universal joint connection with said axle, a guiding tongue pivoted to said axle, mechanism for moving the tongue horizontally on its pivot,a shaft extending from said mechanism to asource of power at the rear of the grader, a universal joint in said shaft, positioned substantially above the tongue pivot and. a sleeve and telescoping shaft section being provided in said shaft to assist in compensating for movement of the tongue. 7 I

8. In a road grader, a front axle, a main frame with a universal joint connection to said axle, a'tongue pivoted to the axle, a mechanism carried by the axle for adjusting the front wheels, shafting extending from a suitable source of power on the frame to the tongue and thence to the adjusting mech anism, and a universal joint in theinainframe-tongue shafting substantially above the tongue pivot. I

9. In a road grader, a front axle, a main frame with a universal joint connection to said axle, a guiding tongue pivoted to said axle, mechanism carried by the axle for leaning the wheels, shafting extending from a source of motive power on the frame to the tongue and thence rearwardly, means as-, sociated with the tongue for inclining the same horizontally, shafting from said source of powerto the tongue inclining means, and

a universal joint in each of said shafts substantially above the tongue pivot, so that said tongue maybe moved about its pivot without cramping said shafts.

10. A grader as defined in claim9 with a guide bracket pivoted to the frame above the joint between the frame and axle, a section of said shafts being journaled in said bracket to hold the same in secure but adjustable position.

11'. A. grader as defined in claim 9 with a telescoping section in said shafts to assist in compensating for the movement of the tongue.

12. In a road grader, a front axle, a main frame with a universal joint connection thereto, a tongue pivoted to the axle, a number of lines of shafting extending from a suitable source on the frame to the tongue for operating various grader adjustments, and a guide bracket pivoted to the frame above said universal joint having a portion of said shaftings j ournaled therein.

13. Inaroad grader, a front axle, a tilt- I able main frame with a universal joint connection to said axle, an adjustable guiding o tongue pivoted to the axle and shafting extending from the frame to the tongue for controlling adjustments of the grader.

14. In a road grader, a main frame, a front axle, atongue pivoted to the axle, a number of lines of shafting extending from a suitable source of power on the frame to the tongue for operating various grading adjustments and a guide bracket pivoted to the frame having a portion of said shafting journaled therein.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 20th day of July, 1927.

CLYDE B. FAVERTY. 

